The ABA Advisory Committee (ABAAC) is established under subsection 65(1) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Land Rights Act) to advise the Minister for Indigenous Affairs in connection with debiting the ABA for the benefit of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory (NT). Members of ABAAC are nominated by their respective Land Councils and the Chair is appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion.
The Aboriginals Benefit Account Advisory Committee (ABAAC) met from 1-3 November 2016 in Darwin to consider applications for grant funding submitted in the August 2016 Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) funding round. ABAAC will shortly provide advice to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on the applications.
This was the first meeting to consider ABA applications in 2016 and included the new Chair,
Ms Donna Ah Chee, and new members Ms Barbara Shaw, Ms Valerie Martin, Mr Phillip Wilyuka and Mr Kelvin Morrison. ABAAC members acknowledge the commendable service of its former Chair, Ms Pat Brahim, who served as Chair for seven years.
In recognition of the important role of the ABA in supporting projects for the benefit of Aboriginal people in the NT, ABAAC met with NT Ministers McCarthy, McConnell and Costa. Discussion addressed the need to work collaboratively to achieve complementary investment for the benefit of Aboriginal people in the NT, particularly in relation to Homelands.
The Committee also met with the Minister for Indigenous Affairs. The Minister acknowledged the importance of ABAAC as a key ministerial advisory body. Issues discussed included the sustainability of the account, that ABA funds shouldn’t be used on projects that are the responsibility of other governments or portfolios and reforms to ABAAC and ABA processes.
ABAAC also received a status update of the Account and noted the available balance. The opening balance of the account as at 1 July 2016 totalled $580 million. As at 30 September 2016, the year to date revenue equates to $75.3 million and total expenditure totals $49.2 million. The current financial year has a commitment of $43.8 million and $133.3 million in future commitments. The available balance as at 30 September 2016 is $429 million. Further information on the ABA finances is attached.
ABAAC agreed terms of reference for a Sub-Committee. The ABAAC agreed to a meeting of the Sub-Committee before Christmas to consider and provide advice on the planning and delivery of the $40 million ABA Homelands Project.
Since 2010, approximately $237.3 million has been approved from the ABA to fund 370 projects. The types of activities funded out of the ABA have included arts, funerals, rangers, education, health, training, business enterprises, culture, and small and large infrastructure projects. The Committee’s view is the ABA should not be used to fund activities that are the responsibility of other government programmes or jurisdictions.
The next ABA funding round will open in February 2017, with the application form and guidelines available on the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website from mid-December 2016.
Available ABA Funds as at 30 September 2016 | |
| $ Million | |
Opening Balance as at 1 July 2016 | 580.0 |
| Revenue 2016-17 | |
| Royalty Equivalent Receipts | 70.4 |
| Interest | 4.3 |
| OTL Lease Receipts | 0.6 |
| Plus Revenue | 75.3 |
Expenditure 2016-17 | |
| ss64(1) Payments to Land Councils | (23.1) |
| ss64(3) Payments to Royalty Associations | (21.1) |
| s64(4) Grants | (4.0) |
| s64(4A) Office of Township Leasing (OTL) Administration | (0.5) |
| s64(4A) OTL Head Leases Depreciation | (0.5) |
| s64(6) ABA Administration | (0.03) |
| Less Expenditure | (49.2) |
Commitments | |
| Commitments (current year) | (43.8) |
| Committed and planned payments (future years) | (133.3) |
| Less Commitments | (177.1) |
| ABA available balance as at 30 September 2016 | 429.0 |
View the ABA Special Account - Available Balance as at 30 September 2016 DOCX
Back to ABA grant funding page.